A Guide to FIRE Recovery

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Stanley Lee
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1 A Guide to FIRE Recovery After we leave the emergency scene, what should you do next? Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services in community partnership with Birnie HOME SAFE

2 Our FIRE Family Helping Your Family Stay Safe This Guide to FIRE Recovery will help you and your family to effectively deal with issues arising from the tragedy of a fire in your home. We recognize this can be a traumatic and stressful event. Although this guide may not answer all of your questions, Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services along with our partner at Birnie Home Safe, believe the following pages in this booklet will assist you as you begin to recover from this tragic ordeal. From our family to yours, MISSISSAUGA FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES Fire & Emergency Headquarters 15 Fairview Road West Mississauga, ON L5B 1K7 T F Fire Prevention 300 City Centre Drive, 2nd Floor Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1 T F We Speak Your Language mfeshomesafehome.ca

3 After We Leave The following information is based on tried and true methods prepared by organizations like the Red Cross and Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services professionals. Checklist - If You Can Stay In Your Home After A Fire Contact your insurance broker immediately to notify them of the loss. Do not use any electrical appliances that have come into contact with fire or water until they have been checked and cleared by a qualified electrician. Never turn your utilities back on until checked by the utility provider or other competent person. It is possible that gas, electricity or water supplies will have been turned off as a result of the incident. Conduct a damage assessment of your home, using video, photographs and create an inventory. Verify that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are functioning. Replace if necessary. Ensure your home is secure (i.e. windows, doors, etc.). Replace any lost or damaged documents (see Table 1 for a list of the documents). Inspect Food and Medicine: The motto to remember is: IF IN DOUBT THROW IT OUT! Heat, smoke, fumes and water can spoil food and medicine, making them dangerous to consume. It is cheaper to replace the item than to jeopardise your health by taking a chance.

4 Table 1 - Important Documents Item Destroyed or Missing Saved How and Where to Replace Birth, Death, Marriage certificates Service Ontario Divorce papers Your lawyer Drivers licence Auto registration Service Ontario Insurance policies Your insurance agent Military discharge papers Veteran s Affairs Canada Citizenship papers Citizen and Immigration Canada Passports Passport Canada Income tax papers Canada Revenue Canada (CRA) Wills Your lawyer Medical records Your doctor Health Insurance card Social Insurance card Canada Pension plan Employment Insurance paper Service Canada Children s Services & Social Assistance identifications cards Your case worker Land titles Provincial Land Title office Titles to deeds Municipal Clerk Animal licence papers Animal Services Bank statements, money (partially or completely destroyed) Your bank Bonds (partially or completely destroyed) Gather up remaining pieces/ ashes and put them in a package. Call Canada Savings Bonds: Stocks, market bonds Financial planner, investment institution or bank Credit and debit cards Issuing company Funeral/burial contracts Funeral agency

Checklist - If You Cannot Stay In Your Home After A Fire Contact your insurance broker immediately to notify them of the loss. If you are a tenant, you must also contact the building owner.

5 Checklist - If You Cannot Stay In Your Home After A Fire Contact your insurance broker immediately to notify them of the loss. If you are a tenant, you must also contact the building owner. You must obtain emergency shelter. This can usually be done through your insurance adjuster. If you are not insured, assistance may be available through Peel Victim Services at Leave a forwarding address and telephone number with your neighbours, Police and family. Remove and/or replace any medications that you require. Discuss clothing for your family either through your insurance claims adjuster or Peel Victim Services. Secure the site: The site of the fire needs to be protected from further damage by weather, theft or vandalism (normally the insurance company will take care of this issue, but if you cannot reach your agent or need professional assistance in boarding up your home, a general contractor or fire damage restoration firm may be able to help).

6 Immediate Needs: There are various social agencies prepared to offer immediate, temporary assistance, which can include housing, food, eyeglasses, medicines and clothing. A firefighter or Police officer on scene may be able to contact them for you. Remove the following items, if possible: Valuables, credit cards, personal effects, medications, etc. A firefighter and/or Police officer must be in attendance to inventory what you are removing. Replace any lost or damaged documents (see Table 1 for a list of the documents). Arrange for temporary daycare or senior care, if necessary. Pets may have been injured in the fire or they can be suffering from stress. Take them to your veterinarian as soon as possible for a check-up. If your pet is lost or if you have to move temporarily contact Animal Services at for assistance. Notify the following parties of your relocation: Your insurance agent or adjuster Your mortgage company inform them also of the fire Your employer Family and friends Your children s schools/daycares Your lawyer Your post office Fire & Emergency Services Your neighbours Delivery services such as newspapers/magazines Utility companies Emotional support: Any casualties resulting from the incident will have been treated at the scene by Peel Paramedics. However, some medical problems such as shock can be delayed. If you have concerns about your health or the health of anyone else involved in the incident, contact Telehealth at or your social agency or religious leader.

7 Safety Protecting Your Family And For Peace Of Mind As life begins to normalize and you prepare to move back into your home, the most effective way to protect your family and your home from fire is to have a fire inspection and replace your fire safety alarms. ALL fire prevention devices must be fully working and tested regularly. We recommend the following safety actions: Smoke Alarms: Ensure smoke alarms are installed on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas. For added protection, install smoke alarms in every bedroom. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries at least once a year. Smoke alarms should be replaced every ten (10) years. Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Carbon Monoxide Alarms: Install one (1) or more carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Suggested location(s) is outside sleeping areas. If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement or any partially enclosed area. Fire Escape Planning: Ensure that all household members know two (2) ways to escape from every room of your home. Visit mfeshomesafehome.ca and obtain a guide to escape plans for your family. Make sure everyone knows where to meet outside of the home. ONCE OUTSIDE, NEVER GO BACK INSIDE. Call from a neighbour s home or cell phone. When escaping through smoke GET LOW and GO.

Electrical Safety: A leading cause of residential home fires in Mississauga can be attributed to electrical failure. The good news is that electrical fires are preventable.

8 Electrical Safety: A leading cause of residential home fires in Mississauga can be attributed to electrical failure. The good news is that electrical fires are preventable. It is common for these electrical hazards to stem from wiring issues such as overloaded circuits, loose connections and the misuse of extension cords. Electrical industry research shows that homes with aluminum wiring pose a higher risk. A Mississauga company called Birnie Home Safe offers an exclusive Electrical Risk Assessment (ERA) program that detects hidden hazards before they become emergencies. This is especially important after disasters such as fires, floods, electrical surges or lightning strikes. Their expert electricians use highly specialized equipment to test the wiring behind the walls of your home, uncovering potential electrical hazards before they endanger you and your family. Give them a call today, it s the safest thing you ll ever do. Visit them at ismyhomesafe.ca or call

9 Action Log Date: Contact Name: Agency Name: Telephone: Comments: Date: Contact Name: Agency Name: Telephone: Comments: Date: Contact Name: Agency Name: Telephone: Comments:

10 Action Log

11 Know these warning signs PEACE OF MIND. Your aluminum wiring experts This book is provided for you by Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services in generous partnership with Birnie HOME SAFE

Learn About Fires Every day, Americans experience the horror of fire but most people don't understand it.

Learn About Fires Every day, Americans experience the horror of fire but most people don't understand it. Courtesy of Conrey Insurance Brokers Each year more than 3,275 people die and 15,575 are injured in home fires in the United States. To protect yourself, it is important to understand the basics about